The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-29
PLENTY OF LIBEL SUITS.
More Fun in New York Newspaper
Offices Than in Circus

More Fun in New York Newspaper
Offices Than in a Circus.
New York, Nov. 26.--There has been a
heap of fun in the New York newspaper
offices during the past few days. l say fun,
but it was sort of grim humor, and it may
prove very sorrowful to the publishers be-
fore the robins nest again. 1t was not
bolsterous fun, but every newspaper man in
town has had good laugh.
The fun consisted i'll libel suits. Not
publisher on Newspaper row has escaped.
Ii seemed as though She watchful managing
editor was off on a holiday and the office
boy was running things. The first shock
came to the Nail and Cypress Office. 1t
was in the form of badly spelled and hor-
rlbly written letter from an indignant
father. A paragraph had crept into the
Mail and Express stating that a talented
and beautiful young lady who resides not
thousand miles from our City Hall had we'd
ded a burly negro. Her name was printed
in full, and her beauty and accomplish
mentS were dwelt on to the fullest extent
The newly made husbands name was given
also, and the item closed by saying that an
indignant father had driven his daughter
from his door forever.
1t was revolving story, to be sure, and
its publication annoyed the publisher of the
newspaper quite as much as any one else,
for he Is a heightened, dignified gentleman,
who believes in everything except sensation
alism in newspaper writing. A council of
the editors was Immediately called, and the
person who furnished the information was
notified by telegraph that if he ever put his
foot in the Mail aud EapreSs office again
he would be met by a strong armed Celt,
who had instructions to hang and quarter
him. The matter was turned over
to the lawyers of the paper and
a meek and humble apology printed. 1t
was hoped that the irate father
would take the explanation and the apology
in the proper spirit, and would withdraw
his suit, but ne did not He instructed his
lawyers to proceed without delay. AS
quickly as the man who furnished the item
could communicate with the office heidi SO.
He had made discovery. 1t was not his
fault that the paper said that the beautiful
girl had become the bride of a negro. He
produced his original manuscript, and 10!
and behold not word about the husband
being a negro was found in it. The newly
made husband was described as an illterate
fellow, far beneath his wife in the social
scale: He was said to be prosperous gro
Ger in a negro settlement in New Jersey.
All! That was discovery indeed. Then
"a close inspection of the copy revealed the
fact that it was the telegraph editor who
had made the error. He had only glanced
at the manuscript hastily and Immediately
concluded that the groom must be a negro
or he would not take his bride to a negro
settlement to live. So without more ado the
item was captioned in this stately and at
tractive way:
SHE MARRIED A NEGROi
A CHARMING AND TALENTED YOUNG GIRL WEEDS
AN ILLITERATE BLACK MAN
Here it became necessary for the tele-
graph editor to explain to the publisher
The interview was painful in the extreme.
BLAST the negro anyhow" he said, as he
left the awful presence of the publisher. 81
hate negroes / shall dismiss the colored
woman who does my washing at once!"
What care was exercised in the Office for
a day. Every editor and reporter walked
on tiptoe as he passed the desk of the unfor-
tunate telegraph editor. His face was a
study and his heart heavy. 1t was sad
scene.
But the night dispelled the gloom, and
morning came as radiant as a Boston girl
taking her third plate of beans. The air
was crisp and the sun shone brightly. Then
it was that clever young reporter was sent
to interview a man who had just applied
for divorce. 1t was good interview. 1t
was highly entertaining and amusing, but
it contained so many misstatenlentS that
the husband wrote to the wife that he was
not responsible for it. The fair lady threat
ened him with a cowhiding, and big
brawny brother came forward and de-
manded an apology from the husband. He
brought husband and wife together, and
they fell on each others necks and wept.
The dove of peace spread its wings and the
couple were reunited the divorce papers
torn up, and they agreed to join issues and
sue the paper for libel!
When the blood fell upon the Mail and
Erpress office, there was weeping and wall
ing, gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair
The city editor took day off and the te,e-
graph editor joined him in his solitude,
while the poor reporter went over to the
City Hall Park and picked out a bench
upon which the sun shines He is there
now He will winter there.
No ssdder place could be found than the
Mail and Express editorial rooms. How
cautious all the editors and reporters were.
A hundred times each day they walk into
the managing editors room and submitted
items for his sanction or disapproval
lin the present state OF things" said the
telegraph editor, ''it won't do to take any
big chances. Now here's an item that says
John Jones, of Norwich. was arrested last
night for rushing the GROWER"
F'Tut, tut, lhat won't do, was the manag-
ing editors reply.
"Well. how shall we put itY'
"Just change the name and make it John
Smith"
"But it wasn't John Smith, it was John
Jones"
sob, yes, of course, but Jones might sue
for libel, don't you know, and Smith would
not do it, for he would not know which
Smith it was. See? Yes2 Oh, of course.
We must give the news, but we don't care
to revel in too many libel suits"
At this point the literary editor stuck his
head in the door and said he had been re-
viewing a book on prehistoric Man" in
Ohio.
.'Do you suppose John Sherman will sue
us if we give Prehistoric Man--F
Better eliminate the word Ohio and in
sert Dakota. We haven't any readers in
Dakotal Oh, that's a good way out it, eh7'
And so it went all day--a gloomy, cheer
less day. But joy came with the evening
The Mail and Express was no longer alone
in the field of libel suits The TelegrdBl
printed lot of cuts of nude figures and
Anthony Comstock the conservator of
morals, Immediately began to protect the
public. While the editors Of the Telegram
were discussing the situation the Times
printed Swinburne's tragedy, and the
American publishers talked seriously of
bouncing upon the Times for vitiating the
American copyright. On the heels
of this came the announcement
in the Sun that Pierre Lorillard
had lost $225, 900 at baccarat to Allen
Thorndyke Rice. Lorillard denied it all
and entered a suit for $4,000 damages. or